The maritime industry is under growing pressure to operate in a more environmentally responsible way. With stricter regulations designed to protect marine ecosystems and reduce pollution, vessel owners and operators must take active steps to comply with international environmental standards. However, maintaining compliance isn’t always straightforward, especially when much of a ship’s structure operates beneath the waterline.
Without proper underwater maintenance, ships can unintentionally contribute to pollution, invasive species transfer and excessive fuel consumption, leading to regulatory fines, operational setbacks and environmental harm.
In this article, we’ll explore the role of underwater marine services in supporting environmental compliance, highlighting how they help the shipping industry reduce its impact on the ocean.
What Are Underwater Marine Services?
Underwater marine services refer to a range of specialised maintenance and repair tasks carried out below the waterline. These services are performed by trained divers and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to keep vessels in good condition without the need for dry-docking.
They cover essential tasks such as:
- Hull cleaning: Removing biofouling and marine growth to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
- Propeller polishing: Ensuring propulsion systems run smoothly and efficiently.
- Underwater inspections: Identifying damage, corrosion and biofouling to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Ballast water inspections: Preventing the spread of invasive species by ensuring proper treatment of ballast water.
- Structural repairs: Conducting in-water repairs to minimise downtime and environmental risks.
By providing these services, underwater marine companies help shipowners maintain compliance with environmental regulations while keeping vessels in optimal working condition.
The Role of Underwater Marine Services in Sustainable Shipping
Preventing Biofouling and Protecting Marine Ecosystems
Biofouling occurs when marine organisms like barnacles, algae and mussels attach to a vessel’s hull. While this is a natural process, it can have serious environmental consequences. When ships move between different regions, these organisms can be transported across ecosystems, potentially introducing invasive species that disrupt local marine life. Once introduced, invasive species can outcompete native organisms, alter food chains and damage marine habitats, leading to long-term ecological harm.
To tackle this issue, regulations such as the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Biofouling Guidelines require ships to manage biofouling to prevent the spread of non-native species. Underwater hull cleaning is one of the most effective solutions. By regularly removing marine growth, shipowners can comply with these regulations while protecting ocean biodiversity. Advanced cleaning methods ensure that removed biofouling is safely contained and disposed of, preventing harmful debris from contaminating surrounding waters.
Reducing Fuel Consumption and Lowering Emissions
A ship’s fuel efficiency is directly affected by the condition of its hull and propeller. When marine growth builds up, it creates drag, forcing the vessel to use more fuel to maintain speed. This increased resistance leads to higher fuel consumption, which in turn raises operating costs and contributes to greater greenhouse gas emissions. In an industry that accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions, even small improvements in fuel efficiency can have a significant environmental impact.
Underwater hull cleaning and propeller polishing help reduce this problem by maintaining smooth surfaces, allowing ships to glide through the water with less resistance. A well-maintained hull can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10%, cutting both fuel costs and emissions. This aligns with international efforts to reduce the shipping industry’s environmental footprint, including compliance with the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). By keeping vessels in optimal condition, shipowners can meet regulatory standards while also lowering their overall carbon output.
Ensuring Compliance with Ballast Water Regulations
Ballast water is essential for stabilising ships, but if it is not properly treated, it can introduce invasive species and harmful microorganisms into new marine environments. When ships take on ballast water in one location and discharge it in another, they may unintentionally release non-native species that disrupt local ecosystems. Some of these species can become invasive, damaging fisheries, polluting waterways and threatening biodiversity.
To prevent this, the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention requires ships to use approved treatment systems that remove or neutralise organisms before the water is discharged. Underwater marine services assist with compliance by conducting inspections, cleaning intake grates and ensuring that treatment systems function effectively. By keeping ballast systems free from blockages and biofouling, ships can operate within regulatory limits and avoid fines for non-compliance. Routine maintenance also extends the lifespan of ballast water treatment systems, reducing the risk of breakdowns that could lead to accidental environmental damage.
Supporting Oil Spill Prevention and Containment
Leaks from submerged ship components, such as hull breaches, faulty seals or damaged fuel lines, pose a serious environmental risk. Even small leaks can lead to oil spills that contaminate marine habitats and violate international pollution laws. Oil spills are among the most harmful environmental disasters in the maritime industry, coating marine life in toxic substances and damaging ecosystems for years.
Underwater inspections play a key role in preventing these risks by detecting structural weaknesses early. Trained divers and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) assess the condition of submerged areas, identifying potential weak points where leaks might occur. If a problem is detected, in-water repairs can be carried out immediately to prevent spills.
Minimising Waste and Contamination During Repairs
Traditional ship repairs often require dry-docking, a process that can lead to significant waste generation and chemical discharge into the environment. The cleaning, repainting and maintenance processes carried out in dry docks often release hazardous substances into surrounding waters, which can negatively impact marine ecosystems.
Underwater maintenance offers a more sustainable alternative by allowing many repairs to be completed while the vessel remains in service. In-water repairs, such as hull patching, welding and coating applications, are performed using eco-friendly methods that contain debris and prevent harmful substances from entering the ocean. This ensures that vessels remain operational while still complying with strict environmental regulations on waste management. By reducing the need for frequent dry-docking, underwater repairs also cut down on the overall environmental footprint of maintenance operations.
Final Thoughts
Environmental compliance in the shipping industry is more than just a regulatory requirement, it’s a crucial step toward protecting marine ecosystems and reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. Underwater marine services play a key role in helping vessels meet these standards, offering practical solutions for biofouling management, fuel efficiency, ballast water treatment, pollution prevention and sustainable maintenance.
As environmental regulations continue to evolve, shipowners will need to adopt more proactive maintenance strategies to stay compliant. Investing in regular underwater inspections and maintenance not only supports sustainability but also improves vessel performance, reduces costs and helps avoid penalties. By working with specialist underwater service providers, the shipping industry can move toward a cleaner, more efficient future while ensuring smooth and responsible operations at sea.
